1. The force of tradtion returned America to an isolationist foreign policy
2. The resentment over war debts spurred the tendency toward isolationsim
3. The Great Depression kept the focus on domestic rather than international concerns.
4. Many Americans did not think the US was threatened or had any compelling national interest in the affairs occruing in Europe or Asia

Why did the US stay out of the war for so long?

1. The Japanese did not succeed in sinking the American aircraft carries because they were on manuevers and not present in the harbor at the time of the attack.
2. Following during the war, air craft carries proved to be the decisive factor in allowing the US to achieve superiority.
3. The Japanese attack united the American nation in their desire to enter and win the war. This was evident when a leading Japanese officer said they had awakened a “sleeping giant”